It is estimated that the Amrabad Tiger Reserve has about 20 tigers. | Davidraju / Wikimedia Commons
Between protecting the interests of the tigers and Chenchu Adivasis and pursuing uranium mining in Telangana state, the former has won for now. The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Hyderabad under the Department of Atomic Energy has decided to “shelve” the project to drill boreholes in the Amrabad Tiger Reserve to prospect for the yellowcake, a form of uranium ore. Uranium is used as the basic fuel to generate nuclear power.
In 2019, an expert panel on forests of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had recommended in-principle approval for a proposal by the Department of Atomic Energy for survey and exploration of uranium over 83 sq km in the tiger reserve.